Key developments include ongoing Ukraine peace efforts amid US and EU diplomatic maneuvers, heightened tensions between Israel and Palestine alongside the death of an Israeli official, Taiwan's significant defense spending increase, and political unrest in Guinea-Bissau.

• Eli Zeira, 97, Dies; Israeli Official Dismissed Warnings of Yom Kippur War — New York Times World -
• Guinea-Bissau soldiers say they have taken power after reports of president's arrest — BBC World -
• Where peace stands in Ukraine after frantic diplomacy — BBC World -

• Departing Marjorie Taylor Greene ‘the canary in the coal mine’ for Republicans, says former House speaker – US politics live — The Guardian -
• Putin trying to negotiate an end to Ukraine war as he cannot win it on battlefield, says EU’s Kallas – Europe live — The Guardian -
• Who leaked Witkoff’s call advising Kremlin on how to get Trump on side? — The Guardian -
• Trump threatens Venezuela’s Maduro with ‘the easy way … or the hard way’ — The Guardian -
• Venezuela’s Nobel Peace Prize Winner Pushes False Claims About Maduro — New York Times World -
• First Thing: Trump envoy Witkoff reportedly advised Kremlin official on Ukraine peace deal — The Guardian -
• Junta hails end to US protected status for Myanmar nationals — The Guardian -
• Americans helping Ukrainian war effort decry US peace plan as a ‘betrayal by Trump’ — The Guardian -
• The Question Hanging Over Peace Talks: What Will Putin Accept? — New York Times World -
• Von der Leyen warns against ‘carving up’ of Ukraine amid crunch US-led talks — The Guardian -
• ‘Imperial Israel’ in the New Middle East — New York Times World -
• Hundreds of Israeli soldiers raid Palestinian town in West Bank — The Guardian -
• No real intent in Moscow to engage in peace talks, says von der Leyen — BBC World -
• Trump defends Witkoff after leak appears to show envoy coaching Russia — BBC World -
• Taiwan’s President to Seek an Extra $40 Billion for Military — New York Times World -
• US to send envoy to Moscow to discuss proposals to end Ukraine war — The Guardian -
• Spat With China Becomes an Asset for Japan’s New Leader — New York Times World -
• Israel confirms Hamas and PIJ returned body of Gaza hostage Dror Or — BBC World -
• Trump's envoy to have Ukraine peace plan talks at Kremlin next week — BBC World -
• Trump envoy Witkoff reportedly advised Kremlin official on Ukraine peace deal — The Guardian -
• Taiwan plans extra $40bn in defence spending to counter China’s ‘intensifying’ threats — The Guardian -
• Crunchtime for Europe on Ukraine — New York Times World -

The UK's 2025 budget brought significant announcements on fuel duty, electric vehicle charges, and welfare, while Labour's political figures faced scrutiny, and a cyber-attack impacted London councils.

• British army halts Ajax vehicle training as noise and vibrations make soldiers ill — The Guardian -
• Reeves freezes fuel duty for now as she confirms 3p-a-mile electric vehicle charge — The Guardian -
• Budget 2025 live: Reeves scraps two-child benefit cap and confirms mansion tax as OBR apologises for leaking details — The Guardian -

• Computer maker HP to cut up to 6,000 jobs by 2028 as it turns to AI — The Guardian -
• Rachel Reeves says budget will cut living costs after shock OBR leak — The Guardian -
• Ministers approve £750m Marlow Film Studios development after review — The Guardian -
• Two London councils enact emergency plans after being hit by cyber-attack — The Guardian -
• How does freezing tax thresholds affect your own tax bill? — The Guardian -
• Starmer calls on Farage to apologise to his alleged victims of racial abuse at school — The Guardian -
• Budget 2025: key points at a glance — The Guardian -
• Labour’s plan to slash jury trials at odds with past Starmer calls to expand them — The Guardian -
• Bahrain to argue at UK supreme court it has immunity from surveillance claims — The Guardian -
• Pets at Home boss says ‘urgent and necessary’ action needed as profits dive — The Guardian -
• Wednesday briefing: What may be in – and out – of Rachel Reeves’s ‘hokey cokey’ budget — The Guardian -
• ‘Unavoidably unfair’: the secret courts system hearing part of Palestine Action case — The Guardian -
• ‘You Start Getting Desperate’: How It Feels to Be Young and Jobless in Britain — New York Times World -
• Plastic nurdles found at 84% of UK sites of special scientific interest — The Guardian -
• UK budget to target cost of living crisis as Reeves battles to keep Labour MPs on side — The Guardian -
• Excessive restraint in immigration detention centres ‘deeply concerning’, report finds — The Guardian -

A deadly fire engulfed Hong Kong apartments, severe flooding hit Thailand, and a volcano in Ethiopia disrupted air travel, while violence exacerbated hunger in Nigeria.

• Live Updates: At Least 13 Are Killed as Fire Engulfs Hong Kong Apartments — New York Times World -
• At least 13 dead as fire engulfs Hong Kong tower blocks — BBC World -
• The last time Hong Kong had a major fire was 2008. — New York Times World -

• Here’s the latest. — New York Times World -
• Deadly Flooding in Thailand Prompts Rescues and Evacuations — New York Times World -
• What we know about the Hong Kong apartment fires — BBC World -
• At least 13 dead after fire engulfs residential tower blocks in Hong Kong — The Guardian -
• Huge Fire Engulfs Apartment Buildings in Hong Kong — New York Times World -
• Deadly fire engulfs Hong Kong apartment blocks — BBC World -
• 'Once in 300 years' rain hits Thai city as floods ravage South East Asia — BBC World -
• Violence Is Driving Catastrophic Hunger in Nigeria, U.N. Report Says — New York Times World -
• Volcano in Ethiopia Spews Ash Into Asia, Disrupting Flights — New York Times World -

The Trump administration continued its tightening of immigration policies and reformed national park fees, as political figures faced scrutiny and redistricting efforts encountered resistance.

• ‘Our concern is for those working in difficult spaces’: president of George Soros’ non-profit on Trump’s attacks — The Guardian -
• Karoline Leavitt’s nephew’s mother detained by US immigration agents — The Guardian -
• Rightwing influencers spin anti-Muslim rage in Michigan for social media reach — The Guardian -

• Trump push for new congressional maps meets resistance – from both parties — The Guardian -
• Trump Vowed Fewer Regulations and Lots More Oil. He’s Delivered on One. — New York Times World -
• Hegseth orders US Navy secretary to investigate Arizona senator Mark Kelly for ‘potentially unlawful comments’ – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Minnesotans gear up to fight Trump ending Somalis’ temporary protected status — The Guardian -
• Foreign tourists to pay extra fee to visit US national parks — BBC World -
• US triples national park fee for non-residents, amid ‘new’ fee for Americans — The Guardian -
• The looming election Trump can't afford to lose — BBC World -

Nicolas Sarkozy's corruption conviction was upheld, Brazil's Bolsonaro was ordered to prison, and a New Zealand woman received a life sentence for murder, with allegations of mass drugging in France and mercenary killings in Mali also reported.

• Nicolas Sarkozy illegal campaign financing conviction upheld — BBC World -
• Twenty-four Nigerian schoolgirls released over a week after abduction — BBC World -
• Chicago man accused of setting train passenger on fire had 72 prior arrests — BBC World -

• ‘I didn’t even know this type of attack existed’: more than 200 women allege drugging by senior French civil servant — The Guardian -
• Nicolas Sarkozy, Former French President, Loses Corruption Appeal — New York Times World -
• Ex-Countdown champion detained in hospital after attacking rival player with knife — The Guardian -
• Nicolas Sarkozy convicted of illegal campaign financing in failed 2012 re-election bid — The Guardian -
• Former Royal Marine pleads guilty to injuring 29 people at Liverpool FC parade — The Guardian -
• Bolsonaro ordered to start serving 27-year prison sentence for Brazil coup plot — BBC World -
• Parking inspector and wife arrested for €1m meter theft — BBC World -
• New Zealand woman gets life sentence for 'suitcase murders' of her children — BBC World -
• Russian mercenaries accused of cold-blooded killings in Mali - BBC speaks to eyewitnesses — BBC World -
• Italian parliament unanimously votes to make femicide a crime — BBC World -
• Who killed our children? Indian parents ask as 'house of horrors' convict acquitted — BBC World -

Australia addressed its gender pay gap and falling emissions, debated new nature laws and public sector savings, and saw legal challenges to a social media ban amid various crime and policing developments.

• ‘Progress is happening’: gender pay gap narrows but Australian women still earn $28,000 less than men — The Guardian -
• Online ‘ghost stores’ capitalising on Christmas and Black Friday sales to lure shoppers, ACCC warns — The Guardian -
• Australia’s emissions from fossil fuels down as electricity from renewables passes 40% — The Guardian -

• NSW storms leave man dead and thousands without power as temperatures soar into 30s — The Guardian -
• Labor’s nature laws risk collapse with deal yet to be struck on eve of parliament’s final sitting day — The Guardian -
• Victorian government sets date for formal apology to First Nations people – as it happened — The Guardian -
• Teens launch High Court challenge to Australia's social media ban — BBC World -
• Reserve Bank could raise interest rates as early as May after inflation climbs to 3.8% — The Guardian -
• Second teenage boy charged with murder after alleged stabbing behind Sydney school played ‘active role’, police say — The Guardian -
• All-male lineup take top slots at ABC Sydney after Chris Bath’s shock departure — The Guardian -
• Virginia Giuffre died in Australia without a valid will – now the legal battles can resume — The Guardian -
• Australian Senator Suspended for Burqa-Wearing Stunt in Parliament — New York Times World -
• Lidia Thorpe joins critics of ‘outrageous’ expansion of police search powers in Melbourne as premier defends move — The Guardian -
• Bondi Junction stabbings: warrantless ‘wanding’ among recommendations considered by NSW coroner — The Guardian -
• Horrific death of Kardell Lomas sparks urgent calls for new independent oversight of police — The Guardian -
• Public sector told to find significant savings but Jim Chalmers denies ‘big job cuts’ — The Guardian -

News covered Miss Norway's salmon costume at Miss Universe, Pope Leo's diverse engagements, the death of Joan Branson, and a documentary on East Germany winning an Emmy, alongside unique human interest stories.

• At Miss Universe, Miss Norway’s Salmon Costume Steals the Show — New York Times World -
• Pope Leo Blesses Rave-Goers in Slovakia — New York Times World -
• Joan Branson, Richard Branson’s Wife of 35 Years, Dies at 80 — New York Times World -

• Jakarta Overtakes Tokyo as World’s Largest City, UN Report Says — New York Times World -
• ‘The Earth ate my Mini’: Cornwall man loses car in sinkhole — The Guardian -
• Texas man, 95, sets record as oldest bus driver: ‘I don’t have no desire to quit’ — The Guardian -
• What’s Really Going On With Crime in South Africa — New York Times World -
• Pope Leo to Visit Turkey and Lebanon — New York Times World -
• Watch: Moment researcher finds rare flower after 13-year search — BBC World -
• Robert Irwin wins Dancing with the Stars, a decade after sister's victory — BBC World -
• Palestinian-US teen held by Israel for nine months without charge due in court — BBC World -
• Roman amphitheatre older than Colosseum gets accessible facelift for Winter Paralympics — The Guardian -
• ‘No topic is too difficult’: children’s series on life in communist East Germany wins an Emmy — The Guardian -
• Fame lowers life expectancy for musicians, study finds — BBC World -
• Penny Oleksiak, Canadian Swimmer, Faces 2-Year Ban Over Antidoping Testing Rules — New York Times World -
• Thomas King, Award-Winning Canadian Author, Says He Is Not Indigenous — New York Times World -
• The 2026 Putin Calendar Is Here: ‘ A Man for Every Season’ — New York Times World -